ARTICLE 6: WATER CONSERVATION

Section

   15-601   Purpose

   15-602   Definitions

   15-603   Declaration of a water emergency

   15-604   Voluntary conservation measures

   15-605   Mandatory conservation measures

   15-606   Emergency water rates

   15-607   Regulations

   15-608   Violations, disconnections and penalties

   15-609   Emergency termination

§ 15-601 PURPOSE.

   The purpose of this article is to provide for the declaration of a water supply emergency and the implementation of voluntary and mandatory water conservation measures throughout the city in the event such an emergency is declared.

§ 15-602 DEFINITIONS.

   For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

   CLASSES OF WATER. The following classes of water uses are established:

      (1)   CLASS 1. Water used for outdoor watering, either public or private, for gardens, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, parks, golf courses, playing fields, swimming pools or other recreational area; or the washing of motor vehicles, boats, trailers or the exterior of any building or structure.

      (2)   CLASS 2. Water used for any commercial or industrial, including agricultural, purposes; except water actually necessary to maintain the health and personal hygiene of bona fide employees while such employees are engaged in the performance of their duties at their place of employment.

      (3)   CLASS 3. Domestic usage, other than that which would be included in either Classes 1 or 2.

      (4)   CLASS 4. Water necessary only to sustain human life and the lives of domestic pets and maintain standards of hygiene and sanitation.

   CUSTOMER. The customer of record using water for any purpose from the city’s water distribution system and for which either a regular charge is made or, in the case of coin sales, a cash charge is made at the site of delivery.

   WASTE OF WATER. Includes, but is not limited to:

      (1)   Permitting water to escape down a gutter, ditch or other surface drain; or

      (2)   Failure to repair a controllable leak of water due to defective plumbing.

   WATER. Water available to the city for treatment by virtue of its water rights or any treated water introduced by the city into its water distribution system, including water offered for sale at any coin- operated site.

§ 15-603 DECLARATION OF A WATER EMERGENCY.

   Whenever the governing body of the city finds that an emergency exists by reason of a shortage of water supply needed for essential uses, it shall be empowered to declare by resolution that a water supply emergency exists and that it will encourage voluntary water conservation or impose mandatory restrictions on water use during the period of the emergency. Such an emergency shall be deemed to continue until it is declared by resolution of the governing body to have ended. The resolutions declaring the existence and end of a water supply emergency shall be effective upon their publication in the official city newspaper.

§ 15-604 VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION MEASURES.

   Upon the declaration of a water supply emergency as provided in § 15-603, the Mayor is authorized to call on all water consumers to employ voluntary water conservation measures to limit or eliminate non-essential water uses including, but not limited to, limitations on the following uses:

   (a)   Sprinkling of water on lawns, shrubs or trees (including golf courses);

   (b)   Washing of automobiles;

   (c)   Use of water in swimming pools, fountains and evaporative air conditioning systems; and

   (d)   Waste of water.

§ 15-605 MANDATORY CONSERVATION MEASURES.

   Upon the declaration of a water supply emergency as provided in § 15-603, the Mayor is also authorized to implement certain mandatory water conservation measures, including, but not limited to, the following:

   (a)   Suspension of new connections to the city’s water distribution system, except connections of fire hydrants and those made pursuant to agreements entered into by the city before the effective date of the declaration of the emergency;

   (b)   Restrictions on the uses of water in one or more classes of water use, wholly or in part;

   (c)   Restrictions on the sales of water at coin-operated facilities or sites;

   (d)   The imposition of water rationing based on any reasonable formula including, but not limited to, the percentage of normal use and per capita or per consumer restrictions;

   (e)   Complete or partial bans on the waste of water; and

   (f)   Any combination of the foregoing measures.

§ 15-606 EMERGENCY WATER RATES.

   (a)   Upon the declaration of a water supply emergency as provided in § 15-603, the governing body of the city shall have the power to adopt emergency water rates by ordinance designed to conserve water supplies.

   (b)   Such emergency rates may provide for, but are not limited to:

      (1)   Higher charges for increasing usage per unit of the use (increasing block rates);

      (2)   Uniform charges for water usage per unit of use (uniform unit rate); or

      (3)   Extra charges in excess of a specified level of water use (excess demand surcharge).